Mr Christopher S Rizek Partner Caplin & Drysdale - Lawyer Biography - International Law Office

International Law Office

Lawyer Biography

Mr Christopher S Rizek

Christopher S. Rizek is a member in Caplin & Drysdale's Washington, D.C. office. He also serves as General Counsel to the firm.

Services

Mr. Rizek represents taxpayers in all types of federal civil and criminal tax controversy matters. He also guides clients through IRS audits, prepares administrative claims and protests of IRS actions, and litigates tax and tax-related cases in U.S. district and appellate courts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Tax Court. In recent years, he has represented numerous financial and professional firms in connection with IRS examinations of tax shelter compliance issues.

Highlights

Mr. Rizek has a unique history of government service before joining the firm. His combination of practical and policy-level experience in government has given him special insight into the application of the tax laws and IRS procedures, which has been of great value to many of the firm’s clients who are faced with complex tax controversies and litigation.

  • Most recently, he was an Attorney-Advisor and Associate Tax Legislative Counsel with the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Tax Legislative Counsel, from 1995-1998
  • While at theTreasury, he was the principal Tax Policy official responsible for regulations and legislation involving tax practice and procedure, including the Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2 (1996) and the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.
  • Mr. Rizek was previously a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, from 1984-1988 and received the Outstanding Attorney Award in 1986.

Professional Activities

Mr. Rizek regularly speaks to tax, legal, and other professionals on a variety of tax issues. He has presented speeches and served on panels for such organizations as the American Bar Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Tax Policy, Tax Executives Institute, and Federal Bar Association.

Mr. Rizek is also an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center and has also been a guest lecturer at other law schools and universities. He is active in civic organizations in Anne Arundel County, Maryland where he resides, and until recently served as Chairman of the Anne Arundel County Ethics Commission.

Awards and Honours

  • Listed in the The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Tax Law from 2005-2011 as well as in Super Lawyers in 2007-2009
     

Selected Recent Publications

  • The Malpractice Environment for Tax Lawyers in the United States, a chapter in Practice Exposures for the International Tax Professional in the 21st Century, 37 Tax Management International Journal 431 (August 8, 2008)

Practice Area
 

  • General Tax
  • Tax Controversies
  • Tax Litigation

Education

 

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1982, Editor, Law & Policy in International Business
  • LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 1997
  • A.B., Dartmouth College, 1979

Bar and Court Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Federal Circuits
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia and Maryland

Other Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association (Sections of Taxation and Litigation) (Chair, Court Procedure and Practice Committee, 2009 —)
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
  • The District of Columbia Bar (Taxation Section)(Chair, Tax Audits & Litigation Committee, 1999-2001)
  • Federal Bar Association

Government Experience

  • Office of Tax Legislative Counsel, U.S. Department of Treasury, 1995-1998
  • Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1984-1988